Apparatus for securing a container and lid

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for securing a container in a container position and for securing a lid to the container, comprises means for attaching the lid to a fixed structure such that the lid may move from a closed position engaging the container when the container is in the container position, to an open position disengaged from the container and allowing access thereto; means for biassing the lid in the closed position; and means for biassing the lid in the open position.

[0001] This invention deals with the field of containers and in particular with an apparatus for securing a lid to a container and thereby securing the container in a fixed location.

BACKGROUND

[0002] Containers for garbage, recycling, food and so forth have lids which must be removed to add material to or remove it from the container. Often the container is removed from its location to fill or empty, as circumstances dictate. The lid is often left on the floor or ground. This requires the operator to bend down and pick up the lid to replace it, and in addition the lid can be lost.

[0003] In many cases, such as outside household garbage containers, it is preferred to have the can secured in a given location. This is accomplished often by building a stand attached to a fence or garage wall to retain the garbage container. Similar retaining stands are used for other containers as well.

[0004] An apparatus that would secure a container and its lid would be beneficial. Such an apparatus that held a lid so that it was not required to bend over to pick it up would provide increased efficiency.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for securing a lid to a container and thereby securing the container in a container position.

[0006] It is a further object of the present invention to provide such an apparatus which releases the container from the container position when the lid is opened.

[0007] It is a further object of the present invention to provide such an apparatus which holds the lid when same is opened.

[0008] The invention accomplishes these objects providing in one aspect an apparatus for securing a lid to a container, and thereby securing said container in a container position adjacent to a fixed structure, said apparatus comprising means for attaching said lid to said fixed structure such that said lid may move from a closed position engaging said container when said container is in said container position, to an open position disengaged from said container and allowing access thereto; means for biassing said lid in said closed position; and means for biassing said lid in said open position.

[0009] In a second aspect the invention provides an apparatus for securing a lid to a container, and thereby securing said container in a container position adjacent to a substantially vertical surface, said apparatus comprising a securing arm having a pivot end and a lid end, and adapted for attachment of a lid thereto in proximity to said lid end; a pivot bracket pivotally attached to said pivot end such that said securing arm may pivot up and down, said pivot bracket adapted for attachment to said substantially vertical surface; a bias element acting between said securing arm and said pivot bracket such that said securing arm is biassed in a downward direction when said securing arm is in a substantially horizontal position, and such that said securing arm is biassed in an upward direction when said securing arm is raised significantly above the substantially horizontal position.

[0010] In operation the pivot bracket is attached to a vertical surface adjacent to the container position at a vertical location such that when the lid is in a closed position on the container, the securing arm is in a substantially horizontal position; a lid is attached to the securing arm and the container is placed in the container position under the lid. The lid is biassed downwards when in the closed position on the container, thereby securing the lid on the container and securing the container in the container position. Raising the lid above the substantially horizontal position causes the over-centering bias element to bias the securing arm in an upward direction, thereby maintaining the lid in an open position.

[0011] The apparatus thus secures the container in its position by securing the lid in a fixed position when closed. The engagement of the lid and the container, and the bias force on the lid which maintains this engagement, in turn keeps the container in its position. When the lid is disengaged from the container, i.e. opened, the container may be freely removed for filling or emptying. When the container is returned to its proper position the lid is closed, thereby securing the container in position. The apparatus also secures the lid so that it may be opened while still being secured to the securing arm so that the operator does not have to place the lid on the floor or ground, and then retrieve it.

[0012] The apparatus would be suitable for many containers such as household or commercial garbage, recycled materials, food and so forth.

[0013] The pivot bracket could be a u-shaped bracket wherein the securing arm is pivotally attached thereto by a pin through corresponding holes in the securing arm and in the legs of the u-shaped bracket. Other pivot mechanisms are well known in the prior art and would serve as well.

[0014] The bias element could comprise an over-centering spring. This over-centering spring could be attached at a first end thereof to the u-shaped bracket at a point below the pin, and attached at a second end thereof to the securing arm at a point between the lid attachment point and the pin.

[0015] The securing arm could be adapted for attachment of a lid thereto by means of an aperture defined therein. The securing arm could conveniently extend beyond the attachment point of the lid to provide a handle for raising the lid.

[0016] A flexible retainer element could be adapted at one end for attachment to the vertical surface and at the opposite end for attachment to the securing arm, the retainer element fully extended when the securing arm is in its lowest position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] While the invention is claimed in the concluding portions hereof, preferred embodiments are provided in the accompanying detailed description which may be best understood in conjunction with the accompanying diagrams where like parts in each of the several diagrams are labeled with like numbers, and where:

[0018]FIG. 1 is a perspective view two of the preferred embodiments in place to secure a pair of household garbage cans and the lids thereof;

[0019]FIG. 2 is a side view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 with the lid in the open position;

[0020]FIG. 3 is a side view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 with the lid in the closed position;

[0021]FIG. 4 is a top view of the embodiment of FIG. 1.

[0022]FIG. 5 is a side view of the embodiment of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT

[0023]FIG. 1 shows a preferred embodiment of the invention. A pair of the embodiments are mounted in place, one on each of a pair of household garbage containers. In the illustration, one embodiment is in the open position and one is in the closed position.

[0024] Referring to FIGS. 2-5, a ushaped pivot bracket 1 is formed by legs 4 attached to mounting plate 16. The mounting plate 16 is attached to the vertical surface of the fence 15 by bolts or screws 17 through bracket holes 3. A securing arm 2 is pivotally attached at its pivot end 2 a between the legs 4 of the pivot bracket 1 by a pin 5 through corresponding holes in the securing arm 2 and the legs 4. The securing arm 2 is thus free to pivot up and down about the pivot pin 5. The securing arm defines a lid hole 6 near the lid end 2 b of the securing arm 2 to accommodate a bolt 7 for attachment of the container lid 8.

[0025] A biassing force is applied to the securing arm 2 by two bias elements, being springs 9, each attached at one end to an eye 10 on the pivot bracket 1, below the pin 5, and at the opposite end to cross-member 11, fixed to the securing arm 2 between the pin 5 and the attachment point of the lid at lid hole 6.

[0026] The springs 9 act on the securing arm 2 to bias it in a downward direction when the securing arm 2 is in a substantially horizontal position, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5. In this position the lid 8 is engaged in the container 12 in the closed position, and held in this position by the bias force of the springs 9, thereby securing the lid 8 to the container 12 and the container 12 in its position adjacent to the fence 15.

[0027] The lid is raised by lifting on the handle 13, which extends from the securing arm 2. When the securing arm 2 and attached lid 8 are raised to approximately the position shown in FIG. 2, the springs 9 are stretched to their maximum length, where the spring attachment points 10 and 11 are aligned with the pin 5. When the lid 8 is raised above this position the springs 9 go over-centre and bias the securing arm 2 in an upward direction, so that when the handle 13 is released, the lid remains in an upright open position. A flexible retaining element, being a chain 14 is attached to the vertical surface of the fence 15 at one end and to the securing arm 2 at the opposite end, and is of such a length that the lid 8 may held in a lowest desired position when the container 12 is not in place.

[0028] The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous changes and modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all such suitable changes or modifications in structure or operation which may be resorted to are intended to fall within the scope of the claimed invention. 

I claim:
 1. An apparatus for securing a lid to a container, and thereby securing said container in a container position adjacent to a fixed structure, said apparatus comprising: means for attaching said lid to said fixed structure such that said lid may move from a closed position engaging said container when said container is in said container position, to an open position disengaged from said container and allowing access thereto; means for biassing said lid in said closed position; and means for biassing said lid in said open position.
 2. An apparatus for securing a lid to a container, and thereby securing said container in a container position adjacent to a substantially vertical surface, said apparatus comprising: a securing arm having a pivot end and a lid end, and adapted for attachment of a lid thereto in proximity to said lid end; a pivot bracket pivotally attached to said pivot end such that said securing arm may pivot up and down, said pivot bracket adapted for attachment to said substantially vertical surface; a bias element acting between said securing arm and said pivot bracket such that said securing arm is biassed in a downward direction when said securing arm is in a substantially horizontal position, and such that said securing arm is biassed in an upward direction when said securing arm is raised significantly above the substantially horizontal position.
 3. The invention of claim 2 wherein said pivot bracket is a u-shaped bracket and wherein said securing arm is pivotally attached thereto by a substantially horizontal pin through corresponding holes in said securing arm and in legs of said u-shaped bracket.
 4. The invention of claim 3 wherein said bias element comprises an over-centering spring.
 5. The invention of claim 4 wherein said over-centering spring is attached at a first end thereof to said u-shaped bracket at a point below said pin, and is attached at a second end thereof to said securing arm at a point between the lid attachment point and said pin.
 6. The invention of claim 4 wherein said securing arm is adapted for attachment of a lid thereto by means of an aperture defined by said securing arm.
 7. The invention of claim 4 wherein said lid end of said securing arm extends beyond the attachment point of said lid to provide a handle for raising said lid.
 8. The invention of claim 4 further comprising a flexible retainer element adapted at one end for attachment to said vertical surface and at the opposite end for attachment to said securing arm, said retainer element fully extended when said securing arm is in a lowest position. 